Mensa Otabil - They Will Know That I Am Lord (10/07/2025)
Exodus Chapter 7, Verse 5: «And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.» In the previous verse, God says, «I’ll harden the heart of Pharaoh,» and then He says, «I’ll multiply my signs and my wonders.»
Why would God do that? Now He tells us why He is doing it: so that He can achieve a certain result. A significant part of what God intends as an outcome for this battle is to establish His lordship over Egypt and to demonstrate to the people of Egypt who the true God is, turning their hearts toward God. Thus, there is redemption and salvation as the end result of this combat. God wants Egypt to know who is Lord and whom to worship.
The three objectives of this encounter are as follows: First, to break the spiritual powers controlling Egypt. Throughout the miracles and plagues of Egypt, you can see that there is a spiritual confrontation to break the powers of evil controlling not only Pharaoh but also enveloping the land, blinding the people and bringing them into evil subservience. Therefore, the spiritual powers must be confronted, and their powers must be broken; that is the first aspect.
Second, God wants to claim Israel as His heritage. Pharaoh has taken God’s possession, and God had told Abraham, «Israel is my possession.» Pharaoh has taken what belongs to God, and He must reclaim His possession. Just like all of us would do if someone took our possessions, we do not simply ask, «Please, can I have it back?» No, we go with strong force because we have the authority and right to take it back. That is why God is entering very strongly to reclaim His heritage and His plan for the redemption of mankind.
Third, God aims to turn the Egyptians to Him. That is the redemptive aspect of it. The battle is not because God hates Pharaoh or the Egyptians. He says, «I am doing this so that the Egyptians would know who the true Lord is.» They have been worshipping all these idols and gods, but He wants them to know whom to truly worship and to turn their hearts toward Him, similar to what God did to Nebuchadnezzar, to turn his heart back to God. Therefore, anytime God performs these powerful works, it is not just to show off, but He wants people to turn their hearts to Him and to claim His people for Himself, bringing them to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why this spiritual warfare is taking place in the land of Egypt.
Now, many times in our lives, we find that we are engaged in one battle or another. For us, it may seem simply an office battle, perhaps involving someone who dislikes us. However, many times, God uses these conflicts or battles to manifest His glory and to redeem the people we are in conflict with. That is why we must also be redemptive in how we perceive the battles we engage in. Through all the struggles we go through, the name of the Lord will be magnified, people will know God, and their hearts will turn to the Lord as He claims this for Himself. He also wants to turn the hearts of the nations to Himself.
Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, let the nations of the world know that You are Lord, that the people may turn to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.» Well, I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.